Je’kob’s sophomore album explores the big subject of man’s purpose on earth with humor, wisdom, and a tender heart. On This Side of the Sky, the Texas-born rapper keeps his flow clean and cogent while bringing in acoustic pop and EDM elements to bolster his idiosyncratic brand of hip-hop. He tackles weighty topics like abortion (“Life on Mars”), human trafficking (“Hands & Feet”), and intelligent design (“I Believe”) while riding insistent grooves and radiating a positive vibe. From defiant jams like “Supernova” to family-centric ballads like “Letting Go” and Christian affirmations like the title track, Je’kob deftly balances a rapper’s swagger with a believer’s unshakable faith.